Drugs in Bacolod

Every now and then you'll find an article in the newspapers or on television detailing a drug bust in the Philippines. Actually, lately it has been about once a week I find something like this.

Sadly, it is purely for show.

Everyone (OK, most people) know exactly where to get the drugs. If you ride Mandalagan or Bata jeepneys you might have even seen them buy it (either around the Plaza or at the Lagoon). It's in daylight. Everyone is around. Jeepney is full. Yet, the jeepney driver has no problem calling over his drug dealer (usually a pedicab driver) and handing him money and receiving a small piece of paper with his drugs inside over.

Of course, everyone also knows about the other locations where drugs are dealt. See pedicabs in a weird place? See tricycles in a weird place where they aren't allowed to transfer passengers? Likely they are there because they are dealing drugs. Actually, I've noticed that most pedicab drivers are doing drugs or are selling them or, at the very least, personally know someone who is dealing them.

What's sad is that no one cares. Or, at least, the government doesn't.

They put on a show for newspapers and television news programs, but in the end they do nothing about areas that have existed for years that everyone knows about.

Then, you have the problem of the rugby kids (even though many of them are actually adults). Everyone knows where they are. Everyone knows how they get it and what they use, but nothing is done. Instead, we have these homeless kids running around (and some of the girls prostituting themselves).

Nothing is done.

Bacolod government officials don't care.